Albert hayes



A. HAYES. Q METHOD OFFQRMING ANUIQNITING EXPLUSIVE CHARGES IN INTERNAL COMBUST'ON ENGINE?" APPLICAHON FILED I'Eii. 5. 1920.

Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

Il N N wwlxb Q WT.

UNITED sTA Es PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT HAYES, 01: NEW YORK, N. Y.. AS SIGNOB, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GEORGE F. MUKAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHQD 0F FORMING AND IGNITING EXPLOSIVE CHARGES IN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patenteil'N'ovitifi', 190W Application filed February 5, I920. SeriaLl No. 858,561.

To all whom it mayconccrn York, in the county of New York, State of .'New York, have invented certain new and .useful Improvements in Methods of Form- ;ing and lgniting Exploslve Charges 1n ]nternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention -lates to a method of op crating interna combustion engines and particularly t" method of forming and igniting an ex sire charge for such engines. My invention has for its primary object to provide a method by which an elicitinexplosive charge may be formed from hca vy oil by mixing such oil with air compressed in the combustion chamber or cylinder of the engine and may be. ignited without the use of special heating or lgniting means. A further object of my invention is to provide a method of forming and igniting an initial explosive charge havin heavy oil for its base Without the use 0 light hydrocarbon for priming and without the use of special heating or igniting means, in other words to provide a method of forming and igniting an explosive charge by the use of which a heavy oil internal combustion engine may not only be operated Without the use of any hydrocarbon other than the heavy oil and without special heating or igniting means but may also be started into operation without such use of hydrocarbon other than the heavy oil and Without the use of special heatin or igniting means.

Ieavy oil internal combustion engines in which, after the engine has been heated up, kerosene and even fuel oil can be used as the'basis of the explosive charge with more or less satisfactory results are known and used, but all such engines, so far as I am aware, r uire for startingtheir operation the use of ight hydrocarbon to give the initial explosion or explosions or special means, such as electric coils or other special heating means for heating the heavy oil reliminary to the formation of the inities explosive char e and, usually, special means such as 1 spar plugs, flame or incandescent igniting devices, for 1 cessively hig compression by'which a. de-

charge forming and ignitin iting the initial cha'rge or ex By theuse of the method of my present invention it is necessary in starting a heavy oil engine only to supply the heavy oil and a small amount of water and to cause sufficient movement of the engine piston to compress the air in the cylinder to a relatively low degree compared with the degree re uired in the Diesel engine.

lVith the above described objects and other objects hereinafter explained in view. my invention consists in the method ot' formiug and igniting an explosive charge hereinafter described and claimed.

efcrring to the drawings which are to be understood as illustrative only and not as restricting the invention to the use of the apparatus shown or to the use of any particular apparatus, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central sectional View of part of the cylinder of an internal combustion engine equipped with a charge forming and igniting apparatus adapted to carry out m invention, and Fi 2 is, a detail view 0 the valve rod of sudh apparatus.

In the drawings 1 indicates the cylinder of an internal combustion engine here shown horizontally arranged though it may be vertically arranged if desired, preferably provided with the usual Water 'acket oil used is heated and from which it is discharged in finely divided or gaseous form into the combustion chamber or cylinder to mix with the air compressed therein and form therewith an explosive or burning charge which -is instantly ignited. This device comprises an outer screwthreade portion 5 fitting the enlarged outer end of the openin 4, and an inner portion 6 extending inwa to or nearly to thelinteriorwall oi the cylinder. Centrally through the in fund outer portions 5 and 6 is formed a. 0 am;

e cham- Y t her 7 here shown as a cylindrical bore, having at its inner end a valve seat 8 for a valve 9 carried by a valve rod 10 which extends outward beyond the outer end of the portion 5 passing through and fitting closely in a central opening in a plug 11 which is sc ewthreaded into the outer end of the chamber T. The plug 11 is provided on one side with an inlet passage 12 for oil lead ing to the charge chamber 7 and on its other side with an inlet passage 13 for water leading to the central opening through which the valve rod 10 passes. In the valve rod at a point which, when the valve is in closed position, is in line with the inlet passage 13 is formed. a recess or pocket 14 adapted to contain a small quantity of water. A spring I5 carried by the outer end of the valve rod and bearing against the outer end of the plug 11 serves to keep the valve 9 against its seat and thus to keep the charge chamber closed except when the valve rod is actuated as hereinafter de scribed.

An oil supply pipe 16 is connected with the oil inlet passage 12 leading from a suitable pump by which the charge chamber is intermittingly supplied with oil, and a pipe 17 leading from a suitable water supply, preferably under constant pressure of gravity or otherwise, is connected to the water inlet passage 13.

The lower portion,or inner portion, of the charge forming and igniting device com prises a. helical rib 18 having its outer diameter loosely fitting the opening in the wall of the cylinder, the helices being spacedapart a sufficient distance to leave between them a relatively wide space forming a helical chainber 19. The rib I8 is of relatively thick metal so as to retain the heat imparted to it while the walls 20 of the charge chamber between the helices of the helical rib are of relatively thin metal so as to transmit the heat of the hot gases to the contents of the charge chamber quickly. A cup shaped disk 21 of perforated metal incloses the inner end of the portion 6 being spaced a suflicient distance from the inner end of the chargt chamber to permit the valve 9 to open freely.

In operation. when the engine is hot the explosion of a charge forces a portion of the incompletely burned gases througl'i the perforations in the cup shaped disk 21 and info the helical chamber 19 heating the walls of the charge chamber and continuing to burn, keeping up the heat and probably maintaining sufi'icient flame to ignite the following charge. Oil is forced into the charge chamber from the oil supply pipe 16 and, at once, becomes highly heated but is held from ignition by the valve 9 which is held against its seat by the spring 15. On the compression stroke of the piston 3. as it reaches or nearly reaches the limit of its stroke, the upper end of the valve rod 10 is struckb a suitably operated tappet or other operating means and is forced downward carrying the water downward to a point below the lower edge of the plug into contact with the hot oil, and at the same time opening the valve 9. The water coming in contact with the oil which "isheated to a high temperature, probably to not less than 400 degrees 'nstantly causes an explosive effect and forcibly expels the oil mixing with it and scattering it throughout the air compressed in the combustion chamber or cylinder forming a highly satisfactory and effective explosive mixture which is instantly fired. The flame from the portion .of the previous charge which is retained in and continues to burn in the helical chamber 19 serves as the igniting means though it is probable that the friction of the particles of oil passing rapidly through the hot compressed air into which they are forced by the explosive force of the steam generated as above described produces an increase of temperature suflicient to cause ig nition without the flame from the helical chamber. This operation continues as long as the oil and water is supplied to the charge chamber. The explosive mixture thus formed from heavy oil, even from the heaviest low grade oil which is sufiiciently fluid to be fed to the charge chamber burns cleanly without deposit of carbon in the cylinder and without waste carbon in the exhaust.

In order to start the engine it is only necessary to supply oil and water to the charge chamber and to turn the engine over so as to compress air in the compression chamber or cylinder. The relatively high comprcssion usually to 300 pounds to the square inch, which, theoretically, should produce a temperature of not less than 400 degrees acting on the thin walls of the charge chamber is suflicient to bring the oil in the chamber to approximately this temperature and I find that ignition takes place under these conditions with certainty.

The cup shaped disk 21 perforated as described aids in spreading or scattering the oil or oil and steam discharged from the charge chamber. v

For the purpose of supplying additional oxygen to maintain the combustion of the ignited gases in the helical chamber 19 an air inlet duct 22 controlled by a suitable check valve may be formed through the portion 5 of the charge forming and igniting device.

I do not herein claim the apparatus shown and described, said apparatus forming the subject-matter of a separate application filed by me on the 2nd day of February 1920, Serial No. 355,540.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is; i

l. The method of forming an explosive lllfi charge for an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oil intoa confined space, compressing an in the engine, heating the oil in the confined space,

' opening thelco nfined space to release the oil into the combustion space of the engine and simultaneously introducing water into the confined space and converting itvinto steam at high pressure by contact with the heated oil to cause it to expel the oil and scatter it in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space so as to form an explosive niixture therewith.

The method of forming an explosive charge for an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oil into a confined space, heating air by compressing it in the engine, causing the air so heated to heat the oil in the confined space, opening .the confined space to release the oil into thecombustion space of the engine and simultaneously introducing water into the confined space and converting it into e at high pressure by contact with heated oil to cause it to expel the oil and scatter it, in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space so as to form an explosive mixture therewith.

3. The method of forming an explosive charge for an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oii into a confined space, compressing air in the engine, heating the oil in the confined space, opening the confined space to release the oil into the combustion space of the engine and simultaneously -introducing water at normal pressure into the confined space and converting it into steam at high pressure by contact with the already heated oil to cause it to expel the oil and scatter it in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space so as to form an explosive mixtu e therewith.

4. The method of forming an explosive charge for an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oil into a confined space, heating air by compressin it in the engine, causing the air so heate to heat the oil in the confined space, opening the confined space to release tbk oil into the combustion space of the engine and simultaneously introducing water at normal pres; sure into the confined space and converting it into steam at high pressure by contact with the already heated oil to cause it to expel' the oil and scatter it in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space so as to form an explosive mixture therewith.

5. The method of forming an explosive charge for an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oil into a confined space, compressing 2111' m the engine, heating the oil in the confined space, open- 'ing the confined space to release the oil into the combustion space of the engine and simultaneously introducing water into the confined space into contact with the already heated oil, the heat of the oil being such as to instantly convert the water into steam at such pressure as to produce an explosive effeet and to cause it to expel the oil and scatter it in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space with such force as to cause ignition of the explosive mixture formed.

6. The method of forming an explosive charge for an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oil into a confined space, heatin air by compressing it in the engine, causing the air so heated to heat the oil in the confined space, opening the confined space to release the oil into the combustion space of the engine and simultaneously introducing water into the confined space into contact with the already heated oil, the heat of the oil being such as to instantly convert the water into steam at such pressure as to produce an explosive eliect and to cause it to expel the oil and seatter it in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space with such force as to cause ignition of the explosive mixture formed.

7. The method of forming successive explosive charges in an internal combustion engine which consists in introducing oil into a confined space to form an initial charge, heating air by compressing it in the engine, causin the air so heated to heat the oil in the con ned space, opening the confined space to release the oil into the combnstion space of the engine and simultaneously introducing water into the confined space into contact with the already heated oil, the heat of the oil being such. as to instantly convert the water into steam at such pressure as to produce an explosive effect and to cause it' to expel the oiland scatter it in finely divided particles through the air compressed in the combustion space with such force as to cause ignition of the explosive mixture formed, closing the confined space, introducing a. second charge of oil therein, retaining a portion of the gases of explosion in position to heat the oil in the confined space, introducing water into the confined space and simultaneously opening the confined space as before.

i In testimony whereof I afiix my signature this 6th day of Januar 1920.

A BERT HAYES. 

